Apr 21, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. The Confederation of European Paper Industries, CEPI, published on April 20, 2006 results of SWOT analysis, set out the top ten factors impacting European paper industry competitiveness and called on the European Institutions to develop a more holistic approach to regulation in order to ensure that Europe remains a business friendly environment. Despite the current challenging economic climate and global competitors whose production costs can be substantially lower than those in Europe, the paper industry has managed to maintain its position as a competitive and sustainable industry in the region and as a global leader in its field. Many of the issues that impact industry’s competitiveness are inter-related, but these direct and indirect connections are not always reflected in the legislative proposals that are developed. An inconsistent approach to policy development can sometimes mean that legislation actually undermines the objectives it sets out to secure. Teresa Presas, Managing Director of the Confederation of European Paper Industries, CEPI, commented: “The European paper industry is the biggest producer and user of renewable energy in Europe; this is not recognised in legislation that promotes subsidies for the use of wood as a renewable energy source, creating unfair competition for the industry’s main raw material. A level playing field for the supply of raw material is a basic essential for competitiveness.” The paper industry recognises that business must take responsibility for its own competitiveness and it strives to meet that challenge but a coherent regulatory framework is essential to support this. Recognition of the interdependence between competitiveness and sustainability is essential. For any industry to be sustainable, it must first be competitive. If it is not, then it cannot make the necessary investments to secure a sustainable future. The top ten factors affecting the paper industry are: Energy; Wood Resources; Recovered Paper; Labour; Regulatory Framework; Chemicals; Capital Costs; Transportation; Taxation; and Ability to Innovate. Many of these factors are common to all European industry sectors. The paper industry urges the European Institutions to adopt a joined-up approach to developing legislation if Europe is to continue to attract investment and European industry is to be able to play its part in contributing to a competitive and sustainable future.